Decision details

Having considered the report “Draft Statement of Accounts 2020/21”, which had been published on the Council’s website 5 clear days ahead of the informal meeting of Audit Committee Members on 28 June 2021, and the views of the Members and External Members of the Audit Committee, the Chief Executive Officer agreed to:

(a) Create a Working Group to support the Audit Committee in providing overview of the Draft Statement of Accounts 2020/21 and associated governance documents in advance of the accounts being audited and resubmitted to the Audit Committee’s meeting on 20 September 2021 for formal approval.

(b) Appoint the following Audit Committee Members and External Member to serve on the Working Group at part (a) of this decision:-
• County Councillor Cliff Lunn (Chairman)
• County Councillor Karl Arthur
• County Councillor Margaret Atkinson
• Mr David Portlock

By whom: Richard Flinton, Chief Executive Officer, under his emergency delegated powers and after consultation with Members and External Members of the Audit Committee

Under his delegated decision making powers in the Officers’ Delegation Scheme in the Council’s Constitution, the Chief Executive Officer has power, in cases of emergency, to take any decision which could be taken by the Council, the Executive or a committee.

Following on from the expiry of the Local Authorities and Police and Crime Panels (Coronavirus) (Flexibility of Local Authority and Police and Crime Panel Meetings) (England and Wales) Regulations 2020 (“the 2020 Regulations”), which allowed for committee meetings to be held remotely, the County Council resolved at its meeting on 5 May 2021 that, for the present time, in light of the continuing Covid-19 pandemic circumstances, remote live-broadcast committee meetings should continue as informal meetings of the committee members, with any formal decisions required being taken by the Chief Executive Officer under his emergency decision making powers and after consultation with other Officers and Members as appropriate and after taking into account any views of the relevant Committee Members. This approach is to be reviewed by full Council at its July meeting.

The Chief Executive Officer took all relevant information into account in exercising his emergency delegated powers in this matter, including considering the views of the Members and External Members of Audit Committee, to ensure overview can be provided of the Draft Statement of Accounts 2020/21 and associated governance documents prior to the accounts being audited and resubmitted to the Audit Committee’s meeting on 20 September for formal approval. See: Agenda for Audit Committee on Monday, 28th June, 2021, 1.30 pm | North Yorkshire County Council

None.